The inside scoop on food in Los Angeles

Cedd Moses opens another classic bar: Tony's

May 14, 2009 | 4:25
pm

In what will surely be described as a stroke of genius by the hundreds of parched hipster musicians who claim the desolate, practically bar-and-liquor-store-free zone east of Alameda between 7th and Olympic as a kind of second home through their practice spaces at the two enormous Downtown Rehearsal warehouses, Cedd Moses is opening a bar called Tony's at 7th and Mateo. It will soft-open Friday between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Tony's, which is more than 60 years old as a bar, has been fully restored and now looks like a down-home neighborhood watering hole. There are dioramas on the walls that pay homage to the famously outrageous rock n' roll-loving author Hunter S. Thompson, and Moses and his general manager, Skyler Reeves (who previously worked for SBE), hope the bar evokes a bit of Thompson's same raw American spirit. If the musicians and artists nearby have anything to say about it, I'm sure that won't be much of a chore. (I've seen people at Downtown Rehearsal bite through the sides of full beer cans and -- gasp! --light cigarettes indoors.)

Tony's also features a back patio with a ping-pong table; inside, there are cozy booths and a pool table. Don't expect to see much, though. They plan on keeping the lighting turned way down. And, really, that's how it should be when you're listening to rock DJs spin tunes and sipping on fine whiskey and classic cocktails.

Next week, we'll come back atcha with an interview with Reeves and more details on the cocktail list, which hasn't been decided on quite yet.